In 2024, there are no restrictions on entering Ukraine for foreigners, but travel may be complicated due to closed airspace. We talk about the most convenient routes from Ukraine to Slovenia and the current rules for crossing the border

Take care of reliable insurance for safe entry and stay in Ukraine

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Ukrainian borders are open to foreign visitors. Tourists continue to come to Ukraine even in spite of hostilities. In particular, during 2023, more than 2.4 million foreigners entered Ukraine, including almost 1,200 citizens of Slovenia. This trend will continue in 2024.

Most often, foreigners come to Ukraine on personal visits, on trips and as part of volunteer missions. However, in closed airspace, traveling to Ukraine has its own characteristics. It is also necessary to observe certain safety rules during the trip.

How to get to Ukraine from Slovenia? What rules for entering Ukraine are relevant in 2024? Useful information for those planning a trip this year is collected in our material.

Flight from Slovenia to the Ukrainian border + train/bus

The most convenient and fastest way to get to Ukraine is to fly to one of the airports in Europe, which is located near the Ukrainian border, and from there continue the journey by land transport - by train or bus.

Ukraine borders Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova. There are many direct flights from Slovenia. 

Slovenia – Poland

- Warsaw can be reached by direct flight from Ljubljana. Ticket price from 200 euros. Travel time is about 1 hour 35 minutes.

- Krakow is one of the closest Polish airports to the Ukrainian border, but you can get here only with a transfer. Travel time - from 4 hours.

The detailed route from Poland to Ukraine is here.

Slovenia – Moldova

There are flights to Chisinau airport from Ljubljana, but only with a stopover in Warsaw, Frankfurt am Main, etc. Ticket price from 200 euros. Travel time - from 5 hours.

The Ljubljana - Venice - Chisinau route is also convenient. You can get to the Italian airport from Slovenia by bus (distance - 250 km, travel time - 3-4 hours). There is a direct flight from Venice to Chisinau, but only four times a week - on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Ticket price from 80 euros.

The distance to the Ukrainian border from Chisinau is 130 km - Palanka checkpoint (Odesa region). The nearest large Ukrainian city: Odesa. Tourists planning a trip to the southern regions of Ukraine should choose a flight to Chisinau airport.

There is a direct train from Chisinau to Kyiv. Bus transfers to Odessa are also available.

Slovenia – Slovakia

You can fly from Slovenia to the Slovak airport Košice, which is closest to the Ukrainian border, only with transfers. Available departure from Ljubljana. The duration of such a trip is about 10 hours. Ticket price from 90 euros.

From Kosice you can reach Chopa and Mukachevo. In more detail, we have already told how to get to Ukraine from Slovakia.

Slovenia – Hungary

You can get to Budapest from Ljubljana with a transfer in Munich or Skopje. Travel time is about 4 hours, ticket price from 80 euros.

There is a direct train from Budapest to Kyiv. A detailed route from Hungary to Ukraine is also available on our website.

Slovenia – Romania

There is a daily flight from Ljubljana to Bucharest with a transfer in Warsaw. Travel time is 5 hours. The ticket price is from 120 euros.

Flights to Suceava are available only with several connections. You can easily get to Chernivtsi from Suceava, there is a daily bus from the bus station, the journey to Chernivtsi takes 2-3 hours.

The detailed route from Romania to Ukraine is here.

Pay attention! If you plan to buy tickets for the near future, the prices may be much higher.

By bus from Slovenia to Ukraine

A fairly convenient and economical way to get from Slovenia to Ukraine is by bus, the journey will take about 29 hours and will cost 80-120 euros. There are many flights from Ljubljana to Kyiv, Lviv, Uzhhorod, Kharkiv, Odesa, etc.

Carriers offer comfortable passenger buses with a capacity of up to 90 seats. The bus cabin is equipped with soft seats, a toilet and an automatic climate control system, a large luggage compartment, Wi-Fi, which allows you to travel comfortably.

Where to buy bus tickets from Slovenia to Ukraine?

Choosing a proven service for buying tickets is one of the most important stages in organizing a trip. That is why thousands of travelers use the ticket purchase service on the Visit Ukraine portal.

By train from Slovenia to Ukraine

Another good way to get to Ukraine from Slovenia is by train. From Ljubljana it is necessary to get to Vienna. Travel time is about 6 hours. Many departures are available throughout the day, the most convenient for passengers going to Kyiv will be departures at 08:00 and 09:24.

Between Vienna and Kyiv there is a direct train Vienna - Budapest-Keleti - Kyiv.

Departure from Vienna at 16:42, arrival at an intermediate station in Hungary at 19:40, final stop in Kyiv at 16:12.

The price of the ticket is approximately 90 euros.

In general, the route will cost 120-170 euros and will take about 30 hours.

Is it worth traveling by train from Slovenia to Ukraine?

Advantages of traveling by rail from Slovenia to Ukraine:

1. The fastest way to cross the border - customs clearance takes about 2-2.5 hours.

2. Comfort - thanks to a comfortable seat, the passenger will be able to rest during the trip.

Where to buy train tickets from Slovenia to Ukraine?

Tickets for most Ukrzaliznytsia flights from Poland can be bought online on the official website of Ukrzaliznytsia, in the mobile application and through official chatbots.

Tickets go on sale at 08:00 20 days before the flight. Returned tickets appear on the website 1-2 days before departure.

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By own car from Slovenia to Ukraine

The distance from the capital of Slovenia - Ljubljana to Kyiv is 1700 km, and the duration of the trip in your own car - 18 hours without stops, to Lviv 1200 km and 14 hours on the road.

The route will pass through Austria, the Czech Republic and Poland. Such a trip, taking into account gasoline prices, can cost from 275 to 400 euros.

Importantly! The shortest queues are usually at Polish checkpoints: Dorogusk, Krotsenko, Budomezh. You can check the waiting time at checkpoints with Poland to enter Ukraine by following the link. More details about the work of checkpoints in our material.

To avoid a long wait, prefer traveling at the beginning of the week. From Monday to Wednesday, passenger traffic is lower, and accordingly there are no long queues. Starting from Thursday evening until Sunday, the number of people willing to cross the border increases, which increases the load on checkpoints.

In addition, we draw your attention to the fact that, despite the fact that checkpoints are open 24 hours a day, there is a curfew on the territory of Ukraine due to the state of war.

Rules for entering Ukraine by car for foreigners

A foreigner is allowed to enter Ukraine in his own car, but he can use it only for his own needs. Foreign citizens can drive cars with foreign license plates in Ukraine for up to one year. Also, if you plan to stay in Ukraine for longer than two months, you need to contact the service center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for temporary car registration. After the expiration of the one-year period, the car with foreign license plates must leave Ukraine.

To enter Ukraine by car, you must have an insurance policy. To take care of the comprehensive protection of your car in war conditions, purchase a Mini CASCO policy - this is a voluntary car insurance that covers damages not only in the event of a road accident, but also in the case of passive risks of war.

Detailed rules for traveling in Ukraine by car with foreign registration in this article.

Entry rules for citizens of Slovenia to Ukraine in 2024

● Visa is not required. Citizens of Slovenia have the right to stay in Ukraine without a visa for up to 90 days, if the purpose of the trip is tourism, visiting relatives, treatment, etc.

If the duration of your stay exceeds 90 days or you plan to work or study in Ukraine, then before traveling you need to apply for a long-term visa (type "D") at the Ukrainian embassy or consulate in Slovenia. It is better to start the procedure at least 3 months before the planned trip.

● Entry into Ukraine is based on a valid foreign passport, , which must have at least one blank page for the input stamp.

Also, to cross the Ukrainian border, you must provide:

1. Health insurance policy.

2. Confirmation of the purpose of the trip: a notarized invitation from citizens of Ukraine (relatives, acquaintances, friends), travel vouchers, confirmation of accommodation reservations, invitations from companies or organizations, tickets to seminars, exhibitions, fairs, documents about treatment in medical facilities, etc.

3. Confirmation of financial support (cash, bank statement, check from an ATM, etc.) - proof that you have sufficient funds for the entire period of your planned stay in Ukraine or transit to a third country ($45 per person for each day of your stay in Ukraine ).

Importantly! Foreigners who have been banned from entering Ukraine by an authorized state body will not be able to cross the border. Read about who can be refused entry to Ukraine in our article.

Useful links for those planning a trip to Ukraine

● Booking a tour – if the purpose of the trip is tourism, be sure to search for a tour in advance. The largest database of routes from proven travel operators is collected on our portal. Depending on your interests, you can also plan an individual trip.

● Housing search – book hotels here. Rules for renting an apartment in Ukraine for foreigners in this article.

● Rent a car – to feel more mobile while traveling in Ukraine, we recommend renting a car.

● Safety and insurance rules – safety rules must be strictly followed when traveling through Ukraine under martial law. In addition, make sure you have military risk insurance. About the benefits of the policy here.

● Legal support – in the conditions of martial law, certain rights of citizens may be limited, therefore, if you need the help of a lawyer while traveling in Ukraine, you can contact specialists on our website.

● Embassy of Slovenia in Ukraine

- Address: 01901, Kyiv, str. Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, 48.

- Phone: +38 044 585-23-31

- Fax: +38 044 585-23-43

- El. mail: [email protected].

- Working hours: Monday-Friday 09:00-17:00.

● Souvenirs – stylish clothes and accessories in memory of Ukraine here.

We wish you a good trip!

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

We recommend purchasing it for a safe and comfortable trip to Ukraine: 

Visit Ukraine Insurance – insurance covering military risks for entry and travel in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Car Insurance – car insurance with extended coverage in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Legal Advice – comprehensive legal support on entry to Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Tickets – bus and train tickets to/from Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Tours – the largest online database of tours to Ukraine for every taste;

Visit Ukraine Hotels – hotels for a comfortable stay in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Merch – patriotic clothing and accessories with worldwide delivery.

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